| First Author | Kang S | Year | 2023 |
| Journal | Sci Adv | Volume | 9 |
| Issue | 24 | Pages | eadh9239 |
| PubMed ID | 37327345 | Mgi Jnum | J:338631 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:7492920 | Doi | 10.1126/sciadv.adh9239 |
| Citation | Kang S, et al. (2023) Astrocyte activities in the external globus pallidus regulate action-selection strategies in reward-seeking behaviors. Sci Adv 9(24):eadh9239 |
| abstractText | An imbalance in goal-directed and habitual behavioral control is a hallmark of decision-making-related disorders, including addiction. Although external globus pallidus (GPe) is critical for action selection, which harbors enriched astrocytes, the role of GPe astrocytes involved in action-selection strategies remained unknown. Using in vivo calcium signaling with fiber photometry, we found substantially attenuated GPe astrocytic activity during habitual learning compared to goal-directed learning. The support vector machine analysis predicted the behavioral outcomes. Chemogenetic activation of the astrocytes or inhibition of GPe pan-neuronal activities facilitates the transition from habit to goal-directed reward-seeking behavior. Next, we found increased astrocyte-specific GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) transporter type 3 (GAT3) messenger RNA expression during habit learning. Notably, the pharmacological inhibition of GAT3 occluded astrocyte activation-induced transition from habitual to goal-directed behavior. On the other hand, attentional stimuli shifted the habit to goal-directed behaviors. Our findings suggest that the GPe astrocytes regulate the action selection strategy and behavioral flexibility. |
